EmployeeDirectory

Mark Ballo

Des Moines Regional Manager

Years of Service

Now in his fourth decade with CITY, Mark is one of six members on the company’s executive team. Mark’s dedication to CITY has led him to several key management roles within multiple departments. On top of Mark’s experience, he has taken management, sales, and service courses to keep sharpening and maintaining his skills. When CITY decided to expand to the Des Moines regional territory, Mark was the individual chosen to be manage, grow, and uphold the CITY service and values in Des Moines, Marshalltown, Ames, and the surrounding area.

Loves His Job

Mark is enthusiastic about CITY. “I can honestly say I have never not wanted to go to work.” His philosophy is to “be honest and treat folks the way you want to be treated – and to exceed customers’ expectations.” He’s proud that CITY “is committed to excellence” and “believes in long-term partnerships with our customers.”

In His Free Time

Mark enjoys hunting deer and pheasant. But his passion is his wife and four children. “They are the love of my life and the reason I do what I do for a living,” Mark says.

The First Founder's Award

In 2015, CITY’s President Roger Wetlaufer created an award to highlight an individual who shared similar characteristics with Roger’s grandfather and CITY’s founder. With Mark’s attitude, service, and his devotion to CITY, Mark was the first recipient to receive the CITY Founder’s Award.

A Day to Remember

Mark recalls spending “a day (his day of vacation) in the field cold-calling and coaching Ron Holt at Des Moines Feeds.” That’s how much CITY customers mean to Mark.

Chriss Carsello

Sales Manager

The Sales Force

Chriss has been in management/sales for nearly 20 years. His responsibilities include servicing CITY clients as needed, managing the sales force, and selling our services to existing and prospective clients. He believes in “developing strong internal relationships with CITY employees.”

From His Perspective

His experience and training have taught him the value of effective communication. He believes you should “work as one unit, communicate with all parties, and always do what you say you are going to do.”

A Great Fit with CITY

Chriss is glad that “CITY does business the old fashioned way – we earn it. CITY respects the customers we have, treats them professionally, and makes the process of doing business with us ‘clean and simple.’”

On a Personal Note

Family is everything to Chriss who says, “They motivate and excite me.” He also loves to play golf and spend time with friends.

Melinda Fratzke

Stockroom Manager

Worked Her Way Up

Melinda originally started with CITY in a production role and is now one of the members of CITY\'s management team. As the stockroom manager, Melinda manages all of CITY\'s garment purchases and makes sure that all new accounts are set up and meet each deadline. “I worked my way up. Some weeks were extremely hard, but at the end of the day, I knew what needed to get done and I did it,” Melinda said.

From Her Supervisor

“Melinda is very conscientious and works hard every day,” Operations Manager Jon Cornick said. “I am confident in her, and she does a great job.\"

From Home

When Melinda is not at work, she is taking her two children to different sporting or school events. Melinda enjoys spending time with her family and spends a lot of weekends camping.

John Freeman

District Manager - Des Moines

Responsibilities

In John’s position as the District Manager in Des Moines, he will train and oversee route service representatives, help with lead generation, and build good customer relations to assist with customer retention. He also assists with growing our customer base in the region and growing CITY as a company.

Past Experiences

With John’s past industry experience, he is excited to bring his knowledge and expertise to CITY. “One thing I take pride in is being third in the nation for customer retention at my previous job,” John said. “I also have 11 years of experience as a route service representative and 9 years as a district manager.”

Personal Work Ethic

“I take pride in what I do,” John said. “As an athlete in school, I had a competitive nature, and I wanted to be number one. I like to bring that characteristic to the table when I show up to work everyday.”

First Impressions

“I called CITY after Mark reached out,” John said. “We set up a time to talk, and when I learned about the company’s vision and the direction it was going and I was sold. I knew this was a place I wanted to be.”

In his Free Time

John spends his spare time playing golf, participating in a men’s baseball league, and coaching baseball for children. He also likes spending time with his wife and two children. John is also known to travel. “If you have heard the song Kokomo (Aruba, Bahamas, Jamaica) by the Beach Boys, I have been to all of those places,” John said.

Nathan Hanus

District Manager - Highway 20

His Role at CITY

With over 15 years of service experience, Nathan now oversees CITY’s route service representatives in Waverly, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Dyersville, Dubuque, and the surrounding areas. “I’m a big believer in if you are going to do something, that you do it right the first time,” Nathan said.

Excited to Grow

Nathan’s long-term goal is to “do my part to help CITY grow and grow with the company.” “So far I’ve been surprised with how friendly everyone at CITY is,” Nathan said. “I’ve been in the service industry a long time, I’m excited to be on this team and bring my experience to the table.”

Valuing Family

Nathan and his family live in La Porte City, Iowa, where he, his wife, and two boys have two cats named Surly and Rusty as well as a dog named Letty. Growing up, Nathan never had a dog, so he was cat person. Now that he has his first dog, he said, “I have completely transformed into a dog person.”

Why He Chose CITY

Nathan had a family relation rave about CITY’s culture and growth, and that is what brought him to CITY. Nathan’s long-term goal is to “do my part to help CITY grow and grow with the company.” “So far I’ve been surprised with how friendly everyone at CITY is,” Nathan said. “I’ve been in the service industry a long time, I’m excited to be on this team and bring my experience to the table.”

You Wouldn't Know This About Nathan

In his own time, Nathan likes to ride his bicycle. Nathan has peddled all over the state of Iowa, but recommends Sugar Bottom in North Liberty, Iowa as the best trail he has ridden on. Nathan has also started dabbling into drone photography. “When I am out riding my bike, I like to stop and get some aerial shots because the trails are so scenic," he said.

Cara Jensen

Controller

Her Impact on the Company

While Cara personally manages all of the department and company budgets, she also processes the monthly financials and oversees the entire office personnel.

CITY’s Culture

The level of commitment that each employee has at CITY is one thing that Cara likes about the company. She says every level at CITY knows how to work together as one team because everyone is all working towards the same goal.

Weekend Life

When Cara isn’t working at CITY, she is working on her farm or showing Angus cattle. As a family, her husband and two kids look forward to attending the National Junior Angus Show, The Minnesota State Fair, and the Iowa State Fair each year.

Justin Johnson

District Manager - Eastern Iowa

Justin on the Job

Justin is in the position to take CITY to the next level in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and surrounding areas. He believes that attitude is everything. Having a good attitude is how he starts and ends each day.

The Best You Got

Justin’s mentality is servicing the customer to build strong relationships. He believes that hard work pays off and that it is important to treat people with respect.

Setting the Bar High

One of the reasons Justin chose to work for CITY was their history and culture. He also wanted to work his way into management, which he did after one year as a route service representative. “[CITY] makes me feel right at home,” Justin said.

What You Will Find Him Doing

Whenever he can has the chance, Justin enjoys fishing and going to see his favorite football team (GO HAWKS). Justin always enjoys spending quality time with his family.

Emily Novotny

Marketing Manager

What She Does at CITY

As the marketing manager, Emily manages CITY\\\'s public relations campaigns, marketing advertisement, and works to enhance sale efforts. She is continuously looking for new ways to improve CITY\\\'s customer service experience and educating and nurturing prospects about our products and services.

Education and Experience

Emily received her communication arts and public relations degree from Wartburg College. She started as an intern at CITY, and then transitioned into the marketing manager role by working incredibly hard and being dedicated to achieving her goals.

Why She Chose CITY

\\\"This is a family company and I like how dedicated, passionate, and reliable my coworkers are. Everyone comes to work wearing smiles and has a great attitude, which is one of the reasons I believe CITY has been around for over 100 years,\\\" Emily says.

Nicole O’Brien

Human Resource Manager

What She Does

Nicole keeps herself busy on a number of fronts, including benefits, recruiting, wellness initiatives, and new hires. She is also on top of OSHA standards, and employment law compliance.

Her Work Ethics

As human resources manager, Nicole finds it very important that people feel comfortable talking with her. She will keep an open-door policy so everyone’s needs are met. She focuses on prioritizing so she can constantly make improvements for CITY.

Her Background

Nicole mutually supports both the University of Iowa and Iowa State University having received her bachelor’s degree from Iowa State and earning her master\'s degree from Iowa. Her education led her to human resources for 7 years for both manufacturing and a service-oriented company, which she said, is a helpful tool in her new position at CITY.

Justin Olson

District Manager - Minnesota

Ready for the Challenge

As a district manager, Justin is ready to get moving and to expand CITY’s Minnesota territory. “It will be a challenge, but the reward will be to get where we need to be,” Justin said. “There are a lot of great people out there that I am ready to help.”

Work Motto

“Don’t take shortcuts,” Justin said. “I like to get the job done and do it the right way.”

Benefits of the Job

Justin thrives with helping people and fixing problems. He says “people skills” are his greatest asset. “I thoroughly enjoy my job and getting to meet new people all the time,” Justin said. “I always learn something new from the people I meet.”

Past Experience

Justin has been in this industry since he was 18-years-old. Since then, he has gained a lot of experience in multiple positions and has worked his way up into management.

Best Memory

“I was once stranded in a snow storm while completing a route,” Justin said. “I actually had to stay at a customer’s house. It just goes to show you how many great people are out there.”

Outside of Work

Justin enjoys family time with his wife and two children. He stays busy with his 10-year-old son with basketball, baseball, and soccer. Justin’s daughter also keeps him on his toes. “My two-year-old daughter already has the attitude of a 25-year-old,” Justin said. Another summertime hobby Justin enjoys is playing slow-pitch softball.

Jamie Randall

Maintenance Manager

What He Does

Jamie is responsible for CITY\'s maintenance department personnel, our building, the grounds, all equipment, the entire fleet of trucks, and safety in general.

Experience And Training

His background includes training with Maintenance Management Institute (TRSA) and extensive OSHA classes. He was also an electrician for 22 years and a plumber for 15.

His Point Of View

In his own words, “My goal is to keep down-time to a minimum and have parts and material on hand that will be needed. I analyze everything and try to find the most economical, fastest and safest procedures.”

Corey Ruff

Service Manager

Corey In A Nutshell

Corey takes great care of CITY’s clients. He trains route service representatives, reviews their performance, and communicates with clients to ensure they receive the best service we can provide. He is involved in training and managing all routes in Eastern Iowa, Northern Iowa, and Southern Minnesota. His goal is to ensure an outstanding customer service experience.

Getting It Done

He believes that CITY’s way of doing business is “fair and right.” As for himself, he always strives to do the best he can and to be as efficient as possible.

Achievements

Corey’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. He was presented the Route Service Rep of the Year Award in 2014 and was promoted to the position of district manager in 2015. Corey also won the Founder’s Award in 2015. Since then, Corey has been promoted once again to fill the role of service manager.

Away from Work

Corey has a household of four daughters, so he stays busy going to their different events. Corey also likes to go deer hunting and also enjoys doing ice fishing.

Paying It Forward

He remembers one cold winter night when his truck got stuck in the snow, and his customers were glad to give him a push so he could get on his way.

Ken Schnor

Director of Operations

From Here To There

After 13 years as a CITY route representative, 3 years as a route supervisor, and 4 years as the service manager, Ken has been promoted once again to the position of director of operations. His role is now to oversee the operation of CITY’s service, production, maintenance, and stockroom departments, ensuring that every part of CITY is working towards providing the best possible service for our clients.

How He Sees CITY

He describes CITY as a “locally owned business that allows us to take care of our customer’s needs above and beyond our competitors.\" He believes the investment CITY makes in training their route sales representatives really sets the company apart. \"The training is ongoing, and we are always working toward providing better, more personalized service,\" Ken says.

His Work Philosophy

Ken says, “Keeping my customers happy is my number one priority. Take care of your customer like your own family, and they will become family over time.”

Alex Wedgeworth

District Manager - Central & Northern Iowa

Tackling the Challenge

Alex started at CITY as a route apprentice in 2017, and after learning the ropes of being a route representative, he was given his own route. Alex excelled at his job and showed genuine excitement when building relationships with clients, so he was rewarded with a promotion to the position of district manager. “What I’m looking forward to is going on the routes with all of the other route representatives in my district and really building a relationship with their clients.”

What\'s Important

Family is very important to Alex. He and his wife of three years had their first child in April 2018.

The Future

Alex studied business management at the University of Northern Iowa. He worked as a general manager at a movie theater for a few years. After working hard and achieving his goal of getting a role in management, Alex is committed to learning a new job once again. “It comes back to getting to know the role first,” said Alex. “I like to do the job first before I try to jump into a leadership role, that way I have a thorough understanding of what the route representatives are actually doing on their visits so I can provide real help.”

What He Has Learned

“I’ve learned a lot while at CITY so far,” Alex says. “Each driver has taught me little things that I can implement in my own route. I’m always about efficiency, so anything that makes the job more effective is great.”

Fun Facts

Alex likes to spend his free time going to the movie theater because that is where he met his wife. He also enjoys playing board games, doing magic tricks, and watching sports. He can also complete a Rubik’s cube in less than five minutes.

Colin Wetlaufer

President

All in the Family

Colin is a fourth-generation CITY family member. As the President, he oversees the company’s customer service and production operations and assists in other areas as well. He works with our management team to set and achieve goals towards company success. He earned a B.S. from Hillsdale College.

CITY Through His Eyes

He says, “At CITY, we strive to exceed our customers’ expectations. The key to our success is having great people of high character personally invested in their relationships with our customers. We work hard to recruit and have been fortunate to retain exceptional individuals. CITY stays at the forefront of the industry in terms of technology to provide better service at an affordable cost.”

Working to Succeed

Colin aims to give everyone he works with the tools to be successful and the freedom to utilize their own unique style to get there. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Every member of the CITY family takes pride in knowing we offer a higher level of service than anyone in our industry. My goal as the President is to manage and solve potential problems before they become real problems. We are constantly working to make life easier for our customers and employees,\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Colin says.

CITY Memories

“Having the opportunity to learn a route from a 40-year veteran was pretty special for me,” says Colin, “And attending the retirement party of a nearly 50-year employee along with her son and grandson who also work at CITY was an incredibly memorable and rewarding event.” He also says, “The first time we loaded the new Des Moines route truck after years of planning was something I will never forget. Seeing a vision come full circle to completion was an incredible moment.”

Brad Zupke

Large Account Manager

Brad’s Responsibilities

As the large account manager, Brad is responsible for establishing and driving new and existing rental business and service products.

The Upfront Approach

According to Brad, CITY does business the way they would like to be treated, with an honest and upfront approach. Brad strongly believes in treating others that way you would like to be treated and to always work as if you are being watched (even when you aren’t).

The CITY Impression

Brad says, “I know many people that work or have worked at CITY and have only heard positive things. I am glad I get to leave my footprint on a company like CITY.”

Evenings and Weekends

Brad enjoys quality family time and going to flea markets and antique shops.

Gary Borchardt

Rental Sales Representative - Southern Minnesota

How To Be Successful

Gary believes in working hard and having a strong work ethic. His responsibilities include generating new rental and direct sales by building relationships throughout his Minnesota territory. In the future, Gary would like to become a sales manager or trainer someday. “My work ethic stems from my father,” Gary said. “As children, we were taught to work hard. If I wanted to go to camp, we sold cards or candy bars door-to-door.”

His Experiences Before CITY

Gary is a jack-of-all-trades with experience as a chef, restaurant manager, welder, and sales representative. He says this has helped him in his current position because he knows the ins-and-outs of different industries.

His Favorite Part

Gary’s favorite part of the job is interacting with people. “Everyone has a story; they’re all interesting,” Gary said. “I also like solving the problems that they have.”

His Interests/Hobbies Outside of Work

Riding and collecting motorcycles are two of Gary’s favorite hobbies. He currently has nine bikes, and his favorite is his 1974 Yamaha Dirt Bike because that is the bike he had growing up. “There’s nothing like the sound and smell of the oil and gas exhaust,” Gary said. “It’s nostalgic.” Gary also enjoys spending time with his wife and family. Whenever his grandchildren come over, it is a tradition that they pick and eat apples off their apple tree.

Scott Coe

Facility Services Representative

Industry Experience

Scott understands the service industry as he previously worked in the restaurant industry for 27 years and also worked as a route service representative for another industrial laundry. “The thing I like about this industry is being about to get to know your customers. You can really interact with them,” Scott said. “But in the restaurant business, you have to manage a faster pace. So, this is a nice change.”

His Role at CITY

Scott is currently responsible for delivering, installing, maintaining, and servicing facility services products for CITY’s first aid division.

Striving for Excellence

In his previous job, Scott excelled in monthly contract renewal contests and often performed within the top five. “To me, it was about making the customer happy,” Scott said. “I just asked them about their service and always made sure they were happy with it.”

Interests & Hobbies

If Scott could pick his perfect weekend, he would spend it golfing and going out to dinner with friends. “I started playing golf as a freshman in high school. I wanted to meet people and golf was the perfect way to do that,” Scott said.

Interesting Facts

Scott and his twin brother were both adopted, as well as Scott’s older sister.

Chris Evavold

Rental Sales Representative - West Hennepin County (MN)

The Important Role He Plays

As a rental sales representative at CITY, Chris has the responsibility of generating new rental and direct sales by building relationships throughout his Minnesota territory.

His Work Philosophy

Chris believes that it’s important to establish true relationships with current and potential clients. “You have to build friendships, and I always believe that a future prospect is an actual customer of CITY’s.”

His Experiences Before CITY

Chris has over 17 years of experience working in the industrial laundry business. He has also helped conduct sales seminars and other trainings.

Why He Chose CITY

Chris likes CITY’s family and locally owned business philosophies. “All my career, I’ve seen how the larger companies do things, and I disagree with a lot of those things,” Chris said. “But the biggest deciding factor for me was seeing how ethical and upfront CITY is. CITY does things right.”

Outside of Work

Chris enjoys boating and fishing with his family. They will soon be building a cabin on some lakeside land. They also enjoy traveling and going on road trips.

Kristin Landsteiner

Rental Sales Representative - Southern Minnesota

The Good Guys

Kristin loves the team environment and that CITY is all about the customer. “I like the detail and the passion for the CITY,” Kristin said. “CITY holds values that are fair, honest, and ethical. I also love connecting with people – especially connecting them with the ‘good guys’ of the industry.”

Kristin\\\\\\\'s Work Goals

She loves sales and hopes to generate, generate, generate. “I love what I do, and I want to see CITY as one of the top industry leaders in the Minnesota market,” Kristin said. “That would be ideal.”

Her Background

Kristin graduated from Minnesota State University with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree and a Communication and Media Studies/Psychology degree. She has worked in this industry for ten years. “I try to help people by finding them improvements,” Kristin said. “I like to show clients what our industry has to offer.”

In Her Leisure Time

Kristin has two children that keep her on her toes. Her weekends are pretty occupied with her daughter’s gymnastics tournaments and her son’s Taekwondo. “I also love being on the water. I am definitely an outdoors, summer person. My husband and I enjoy taking the family boating and swimming at Lake Washington,” Kristin said.

Brandon Murillo

Rental Sales Representative - Central Iowa

His Approach to Work

“The best jobs are those that don’t feel like work. You should always do what makes you happy and what best aligns with your goals in life,” Brandon said. “Finding a balance between these can be tough, but with hard work and dedication, it can be done.”

In the Future

Brandon hopes to grow his client base in southern Iowa. “My long term goal is to eventually pass on my knowledge in a manager a position to a sales team of my own,” Brandon said.

A Good Fit

“CITY is always learning and coming up with new ways to be the best at what they do,” Brandon said. “To be the best, you have to have great people to build on that foundation. It really sets the positive culture and atmosphere I was looking for.”

Outside of Work

Brandon especially enjoys spending time outside. His favorite pastimes are boating, swimming, and fishing. “It’s not very often you will find me without a line in the water on the weekends,” Brandon said. Brandon and his wife were high school sweethearts, and have now been married for five years. They have a one-year-old son.

Fun Fact

Brandon was on the Class 1A State Baseball Championship team at Van Meter.

Josh Pilcher

Rental Sales Representative - Southern Minnesota

The Important Role He Plays

As CITY’s Minnesota rental sales representative, Josh is responsible for generating new rental and direct sales by building relationships throughout the state of Minnesota. Josh works with the Sales Manager and the sales team for ongoing coaching, training, and identifying and closing new sales.

A Good Mix

Josh was first attracted to CITY because of the family-owned business aspect. He also felt a connection from growing up in Iowa. He currently resides in Minnesota and believes his Iowa roots will help him push CITY north into new territory.

His Approach to Work

Josh is a big believer in having fun all while motivating and challenging himself in his work. “I like the competitiveness of the position and the challenge to prove CITY is the best choice for each client,” he said.

Hildy Webb

Rental Sales Representative - Des Moines Metro Area

What She Does CITY

As a rental sales representative, Hildy is responsible for securing new business opportunities around the Des Moines metro area. She recruits new companies and businesses to CITY by calling on accounts, setting up meetings, and selling programs and products to meet each of our clients\' needs.

Her Work Style

As a huge people person, Hildy enjoys the warm, welcoming culture at CITY. Hildy is always open to learn new things and says, “If you give 110 percent, there are no limits to what you can achieve.”

Her Background and Goals

Hildy is not afraid of a challenge or change. Hildy graduated from the University of Iowa with an economics degree and has been in sales the past couple of years. Her long-term goals are to be the best CITY representative in the Des Moines area and expand the market by learning all about CITY’s industry, enjoying her work, and giving her best every day.

Al Voigt

Facility Services Representative

What Makes the Difference

Al started at CITY as a route service representative. In his first year, he won the 2016 Route Representative of the Year Award. During the presentation of the award, CITY Service Manager Ken Schnor noted. “Al is the 2016 Route Service Representative of the Year because he is an above average performer. He always goes the extra mile and genuinely cares about his clients’ level of satisfaction.”

Where You Will Find Him

Al is currently responsible for selling, delivering, installing, maintaining, and servicing facility services products for CITY’s first aid division. He provides customers with excellent customer service and assists in growing the department.

Family Values

"Being a family-owned company in Iowa, CITY really shows how much they care about their people. Being a part of a company that has these values is something I’ve always wanted," says Al. And this shows in the everyday work and services that each CITY employee provides.

His Work Philosophy

Al says he is always focused on getting the job done and done correctly the first time. His previous experience has always been working with people and providing them with a service that “makes the difference.”

When He is Not Working

When Al is not working, his children are his main priority. His other personal hobbies are fishing, hunting, running, and biking.

Chris Boesker

Route Service Representative - Rt. 12

His Position

Chris serves existing CITY customers and is always on the lookout for new business. His service area includes Oelwein, Prairie Du Chien, Elkader, Guttenberg and Garnavillo.

Background Experience

Chris graduated from Upper Iowa University with a psychology degree. Chris also played football while attending college. “My background helps me to look at the bigger picture and to not get caught up in the moment,” Chris said.

The CITY Way

“Just go out and give it your all,” Chris said. “It’s important to provide customers with everything they need including a big smile.”

On His Own Time

Most of Chris’s spare time revolves around his family. Chris enjoys spending time with his wife and his four-year-old daughter. He spends his weekends relaxing, watching TV, and doing crafts with his daughter. “She loves to cut things up and glue things together,” Chris said. “It doesn’t matter what it makes.” Other than family time, Chris enjoys football, and his goal is to get outside more for archery.

Andy Hauersperger

Route Service Representative - Rt. 8

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2015

1-800-798-5621, ext. 305Cell: 319-239-5572

How It's Done

Andy takes good care of customers on his route in Independence, Manchester, Vinton, Edgewood, Strawberry Point, Winthrop, Troy Mills and Quasky. Andy likes to give everyday 100 percent and will do whatever it takes to get the job done correctly.

Skills to Succeed

Andy said his past work experience is why he will succeed at CITY. “The people I have worked with or have met in the past years have molded me to what I am today and have helped me develop the skills I need to succeed. My goal is to excel at my position and to become a leader for CITY,” Andy said.

Here To Stay

Andy likes the fact that CITY is a family company that is here to stay. One of the reasons why Andy chose CITY was because of all of the tenured employees. Andy said CITY is a great company because so many people want to make a long-term career out of it.

Off the Clock

Hunting, fishing and spending time with his dogs and family and are all things Andy enjoys away from work.

Off the Clock

Marc Kane

Route Service Representative - Rt. 7

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 1982

800-798-5621, ext. 304Cell: 319-231-1104

What He Does And Where

Marc is now in his fourth decade with CITY as a route rep helping keep things clean and simple for the customers to whom he delivers. His service area includes Cedar Rapids, Marion and Hiawatha in Linn County.

Marc On CITY

He says, “Because CITY is a smaller, family-owned business, we are able to provide more personalized service and customer requests are met promptly.”

Service-Oriented

He keeps it short and sweet, “I take care of my customers and treat them the way I would want to be treated.”

Carl Kelley

Route Service Representative - Rt. 25

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2015

1-800-798-5621, ext. 316Cell: 319-238-3038

His Philosophy to His Work

His work philosophy is to focus on developing great customer relations and deliver a great product and service to each customer. Carl’s position as a route service representative differs from the rest of his colleagues. Carl spends most of his time taking care of one of CITY’s larger accounts in the Tama area. Five days a week, Carl services the largest account in CITY’s history.

Carl’s Progress Within CITY

Carl is very detail-oriented and has a drive attitude. Carl started with CITY in the janitorial department and excelled in that position. When a service job opened up, Carl said, “He truly appreciates how CITY is willing to promote from within.”

The Family Aspect

Carl is very appreciative of the CITY culture. “The relationship everyone has with each other is great. We really are a team,” Kelley said. “We work as a family, and we treat each other like family.”

His Interests

Besides work, Carl has a passion for fishing, riding his motorcycle, and taking care of his 2-year-old Yorkie-poo named Gia.

Aaron Kennon

Route Service Representative - Rt. 50

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2018

800-798-5621Cell: 319-238-3912

His Role at CITY

Aaron services clients in the north-central Iowa territory and is ready to take on the responsibility of service. “I’m excited to be able to make my route my own,” Aaron said. “I will be able to take on the responsibility of taking care of my clients, which I think is pretty cool.”

Previous Experience

Aaron has previous customer service experience from working in management for 12 years at Fareway. After hearing a lot of positive remarks about CITY from his family, Aaron decided to make a change and join the CITY team. “I was an assistant manager at Fareway, and I had to move a lot. I was ready to be able to plant my family’s roots somewhere,” Aaron said.

Customer Service Oriented

Aaron is excited to build long-lasting relationships with clients. “Instead of having five-minute conversations, I really get to listen to CITY clients, check in, and see how things are going,” Aaron said.

On the Clock

Aaron’s approach to work is to work quickly, but also efficiently. “I want to do my job right,” Aaron said. “It’s all about doing everything you’re supposed to do and not be someone who skips stuff. Doing it right the first time is important.”

Family Life & Hobbies

Aaron is married and has a little 16-month-old daughter, as well as a baby boy on the way. His hobbies include hunting and fishing.

Mike Kerns

Route Service Representative - Rt. 6

Mike’s Territory

Mike says the highlight of each day is getting to see and visit with his customers. He provides regular sales and service to Cedar Rapids, Marion and Shellsburg.

CITY At Work

Mike points out that CITY’s goal is to “serve customers with a good product and with a good business relationship.” He adds, “employees at CITY work together as a team. We give each other support and encouragement. Best of all, we enjoy what we are doing and that makes for a great work environment.”

His Personal Viewpoint

He believes a sales rep should take his time and do it right the first time. That’s because, “Our number one goal is customer satisfaction. By making service a priority we can’t help but succeed.”

Keeping Busy

Mike likes camping, hunting and golf. He also enjoys playing Texas Hold-em.

Jim Kleitsch

Route Service Representative - Rt. 19

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2011

800-798-5621, ext. 311Cell: 319-231-1101

Jim On The Job

With 18 years of retail grocery experience, and another 13 working on a direct store delivery route, Jim knows his way around service. He delivers uniforms, mats, linens, towels, soap and paper to the New Hampton, Cresco, and surrounding area.

The CITY Philosophy

Jim says that while providing laundering and mat services, CITY builds strong relationships between drivers and customers. Personally, he likes to “work hard and at a steady pace – and do everything possible to keep customers happy.”

What He Likes

Jim enjoys hunting and doing anything outdoors. Jim has spent time coaching because working with kids is particularly meaningful to him.

Derek LaQuatra

Route Service Representative - Rt. 20

Derek’s Role

As a CITY Route Service Representative, Derek provides a quality service to clients on his route in the Greater Des Moines area.

Building Connections

“I am definitely more of a people person,” said Derek. “I love getting to know people, and my favorite part of the job is going into businesses and introducing myself; being able to build connections and foster relationships with clients each week is really cool to me.”

What Led to CITY

Derek had always worked driving trucks for various industries, and he really enjoyed delivering products to customers, but he didn’t like the idea of being away from home all of the time. Derek saw there was a job opening at CITY, and he has found that route service is the perfect balance of customer service, driving on the job, and staying close to home.

Hobbies & Interests

Derek enjoys spending time with his family and often gets together with family and friends every weekend for bonfires and meals. In addition, Derek is a big NFL fan, and he follows news involving the sport year round. When football is in season, Derek roots for the Los Angeles Rams. His other hobbies include playing video games and working on cars.

Mike McGivney

Route Service Representative - Rt. 24

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2018

800-798-5621Cell: 507-226-6348

Getting It Done

“I am a people person, and the best thing about this industry is getting to meet new people and build relationships,” Mike said. Mike builds relationships and provides services to current clients in Southern Minnesota.

Industry Background

Mike has many years of experience working in this industry, including working inside a laundering facility, customer service, and the service departments. “I’ve been in this industry for 21 years, and I’ve loved every minute of it,” Mike said. “I’ve learned a lot, and I love being able to interact with people.”

Best Part of the Job

Mike really enjoys building solid relationships with his customers. “I was in a town for over 14 years as one of my previous routes,” Mike said. “I actually got to know their families and hear about their kids growing up.”

In the Future

Mike is looking forward to using his industry experience to grow his client base in Minnesota. “My long term goal is to help build the Minnesota area,” Mike said. “I want to know that I was a part of it, and potentially manage this area down the road. I want to pass on my experience and my work attitude to the next generation of the service team.”

Hobbies & Interests

Mike is married with two children that keep him plenty busy. He enjoys spending time with his family, his black lab named Ernie, and doing archery with his son. Mike’s daughter is about to graduate from high school, so currently you will find him cleaning and getting the house ready for her graduation party. Mike jokingly said, “We have to get the house ready to fit her expectations, which is even harder."

Fun Fact

“I am a huge music nerd. I enjoy different types of music and I enjoy being a DJ on occasion,” Mike said.

Shane McKinney

Route Service Representative - Rt. 2

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2011

319-238-3415Cell: 800-798-5621

Scope and Quality

With 10 years of delivery work and over 10 in customer service, Shane strives to provide excellent service to all of his accounts. He prefers to “handle and deal with client issues and work hard to avoid issues before they happen.” He services Marshalltown and the Des Moines area.

CITY from Shane’s View

Shane says, “CITY goes above and beyond to provide world class service to all of its clients.” He himself likes to “work hard until the job has been finished to the best of [his] ability” and make sure “what our clients expect to happen is completed.” He genuinely cares about all of his clients and their business.

What He Loves

Sports are high on his list, especially Nebraska football. And he truly loves “spending time with [his] family.”

Mutual Fan Club

On one difficult day, it took him longer than expected to get to a client. “She stayed open until I finished and was so happy I called and finished her stop before the weekend. She loaded me up with Gatorades for my ride home and told me how fantastic a job CITY does for her,” Shane said. Shane also has a client that sings to him every time he changes their mats. “NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA MAT MAN.”

Accomplishments & Awards

Shane won CITY’s 2012 Sales Contest. For his efforts he won an all-expenses paid trip to Cancun, Mexico for a week vacation with his wife, Vanessa.

Derek Miller

Route Service Representative - Rt. 14

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2015

800-798-5621, ext. 313Cell: 319-238-2277

Getting it Done

As a route service rep, some of the towns Derek services are Cedar Falls, Denver, Jesup, and Fairbank. He’s a “people person” and says, “All of my work experience since I was 18 was on the road, and I take pride in all of my work.”

The CITY Way

Derek likes to say that he likes to “work hard to make sure that everything is ready and taken care of correctly.” He adds, “Every single employee at CITY is working to exceed the expectations of our customers.”

On His Own Time

When Derek is not working, he enjoys fishing, going to car shows, collecting sports cards, bowling, and spending time with his family.

Getting It Done

How He Got Here

He has an A.A.S. degree in Agribusiness Management from Hawkeye Tech. And for over 24 years he was in the customer service industry on a bread route.

Happy About CITY

Rick says. “CITY is a family-owned company that can handle the big accounts because of our modern facility and dedication to service.” He thinks it’s “great they have been in business 100 years and will be here for another 100.”

The Way He Sees It

He says, “Be honest and fair to your customer, and they in turn will be fair and honest with you. In today’s competitive marketplace, you have to set yourself apart and keep your customers happy by providing them with the very best service.\\\\\\\"

The Good Life

Rick can think of nothing better than spending time with his two grandchildren. He also likes camping and tubing.

About His Customers

Rick really likes “getting to know the customers well enough that they invite you to a wedding or a graduation. And you invite them back.”

Tim Nuss

Route Service Representative - Rt. 5

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 1998

800-798-5621, ext. 302Cell: 319-231-1102

Focus on Service

Tim got a degree as an electrician, but he found his niche as a CITY route rep. He focuses on service as he delivers clean CITY uniforms, linen and mats in Fayette and Winnishiek counties. His service area includes Decorah, West Union, Calmar, Fayette, Fort Atkinson, St. Lucas, Waucoma and Hawkeye.

CITY Gets It Right

Tim is glad that CITY is a family-owned business. He says, “CITY takes great pride in servicing accounts of all sizes. We go out of our way to ensure the smallest account receives the same quality service as our largest account.”

His View On His Job

He says, “I want to meet or exceed my customers’ expectations. My number one goal is to ensure my customers complete satisfaction with our products and services.”

His Interests

If it’s an outdoors activity, most likely Tim enjoys it.

A Speedy Memory

Tim smiles when he recalls how one “customer let me drive his race car around the race track on race night.”

His Job Duties

How He Sees CITY

He appreciates that CITY provides continuous training to provide quality service. “We’re always looking for ways to provide a better product to our customers. Our goal at the end of the day is to know our clients are satisfied,” he says.

The Way It Works

For eight years, Dennis worked for CITY as a Route Skipper. His job was to step in as a route representative whenever a route driver had personal time off. This required the knowledge of knowing every route each day. Dennis said when the opportunity came up as a route service representative, he had to take it. He was ready for the next challenge and something new.

His Interests

Dennis enjoys spending time with his family and can’t spend enough time with his granddaughter, Myla. Dennis also enjoys golf, bowling, reading, and camping.

Drew Parker

Route Service Representative - Rt. 21

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2018

800-798-5621Cell: 319-238-0722

On the Job

As a route apprentice in the Des Moines area, Drew is learning everything there is to know about being a route service representative at CITY, including customer service and what it means to be responsive.

Past Job Experience

Drew previously worked as a truck driver for a furniture warehouse, but he decided to try something new. “My fiancé actually knew one of CITY’s route service representatives, so she asked him how he liked his job and if it would be something I would like,” Drew said. “He had nothing but good things to say. And that’s how I ended up applying here.”

Responsive Attitude

“I’m one of those people that likes to go-go-go,” Drew said. “I don’t like downtime, and I find it hard to just sit around. I would rather get the job done.”

Family Values

Drew and his fiancé both have children, and they all love going out together as a family to restaurants, the bowling alley, and to the movie theater. “Our oldest two like sports,” Drew said. “Our son did T-ball this year, and our daughter is in gymnastics. We also have an almost 3-year-old.”

Outside of Work

Drew enjoys spending time with his friends and family, as well as watching comedy or action movies. “The first movie that comes to mind as my favorite is Stepbrothers,” Drew said.

Fun Fact

Drew enjoyed playing sports in high school including football, track, basketball, and baseball. As a senior, he was played the lead role in a play titled The Odd Couple.

Andrew Paul

Route Service Representative - Rt. 4

Andrew\'s Days at CITY

As a CITY route service representative, Andrew assists customers mostly in the Iowa City territory.

Small School Shaped Him

Andrew considers himself someone who likes being around people, especially small groups. He enjoys getting to know people on an individual basis. He has always been someone who helps other people whenever he can. Andrew thinks this mentality came from growing up in Maynard, a small town with about 300 students in the whole school.

How He Heard About CITY

Andrew decided to apply at CITY after his wife told him about open positions. He also liked the idea of working for four days and then having a three-day weekend. He enjoyed his last job, but he wanted to be able to have more family time on the weekends. At CITY, Andrew can get out in the community and interact with people.

Spending Time Outdoors

Andrew enjoys camping, trap shooting, and riding his motorcycle. He is excited to get back into camping since his kids are older now.

Quote He Finds Valuable

“Do it right the first time, so you don’t have to do it a second time.”

Terry Shaffer

Route Service Representative - Rt. 11

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 1980

800-798-5621, ext. 308Cell: 319-231-1108

What He’s Up To

Terry works closely with his customers to ensure they’re getting the best service possible. Some of the towns he services are Dyersville, Farley, Monticello and Cascade – in Delaware, Dubuque and Jones Counties. He’s studied marketing at Calmar and has attended classes by Zig Ziglar, James Gutheim, Dale Carnegie and more.

The CITY Attitude

Terry says CITY is here “to make your business look good!\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" Either through uniform rental, towel service, restroom supplies or mat service. Terry understands the importance of creating strong relationships between himself and the customer.

Terry’s Point Of View

He likes “to stay upbeat and find solutions for [his] customers.” He makes the effort to get to know his customer’s line of business, which enables him to better meet their needs.

Outside of CITY

Terry enjoys riding his bike and spending time with his two daughters. He’s also currently the vice president of the Oelwein Food Bank - Meals on Wheels program.

The Best Policy

Terry remembers - “I once found and returned $1,500 in cash that belonged to one of my customers.”

Allen Shaw

Route Service Representative – Rt. 40

His Role

As a CITY route service representative, Allen builds relationships and provides services to current clients in our Southern Minnesota territory.

A People Person

Ever since Allen was a child, he’s considered himself a people-person. “When I was in third grade, I sold flowers at farmers markets, and I liked to sit back and watch and interact with all the people,” Allen said. “I think this part of my personality makes me a good fit as a route rep.”

How He Found CITY

Allen said spending time with family is very important. Starting a career at CITY allowed him to put his family at the forefront. “I like to spend time with my family, so everything CITY offered was great and fit for my family’s lifestyle very well,” Allen said.

Family Life

Allen loves spending time with his two daughters who enjoy horseback riding, softball, and lacrosse. He also enjoys spending time in the gym and ice fishing.

Barney Webb

Route Service Representative - Rt. 16

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2016

1-800-798-5621Cell: 319-238-2592

What He Does and Where

Previously a route apprentice, Barney has worked his way up to having his own route. Barney takes great pride in his work and covers the following areas: Grinnell, Newton, Ankeny, Indianola, Norwalk, and Des Moines.

Barney on CITY

He says he enjoys working for a family-owned and operated business. He says, “There is such a family mentality, and we all feel part of the family.”

On the Clock

Barney’s approach to work is to come in early and get the job done right the first time. “If I make a mistake, I will learn from it so it doesn’t happen again,” he says.

Teamwork

One of Barney’s coworkers, Al Voigt, was up for the 2016 CITY Route Service Representative of the Year. As a route apprentice, Barney worked closely with Al and knew he deserved it. Barney was very excited when Al won because now he knows what it takes to be top Route Service Representative, so someday he can claim that title as well.

Michael Weber

Route Service Representative - Rt. 9

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2016

319-239-1106

Willing to Learn

Mike says he enjoys learning from the veteran representatives and all of the knowledge he soaked in helps him service his customers. Mike started as a route apprentice before landing a route of his own. His service area includes Waukon, Postville, Monona, Luana, Elgin, Clermont and Maynard.

Focused on Service

One of the reasons why Mike was interested in a career with CITY was the lack of turnover within the service department. Mike also had a good friend, Route Service Representative Derek Miller, who recruited him for CITY. With only four-day workweeks, you may find Derek and Mike out together on a Friday visiting some of their customers on their time off.

On His Spare Time

You can always start a conversation with Mike about football or any outdoor activities.

Kyle Woods

Route Service Representative - Rt. 1

MEMBER OF THE CITY FAMILY SINCE: 2017

319-238-2863

Feeling Fulfilled

Each morning, Kyle wakes up at 3:45 a.m., loads his truck, and arrives at the first account by 5:30 a.m. His day usually concludes around 3:00 p.m. According to Kyle, “The best part of my day is the fulfillment I get from our clients when I know they are completely satisfied with their CITY service.”

Learning From His Peers

Kyle started with CITY as a Route Apprentice, and he shadowed other Route Service Representatives to learn the job. Kyle said, “It was great being able to see how each route rep serviced their accounts. One of the best things I got to see is the confidence our clients have in their route service reps. Our clients trust us and know that we are people who get the job done. Everyday I strive to deliver the same type of service.”

Working His Way Up

His career goals include putting in the work it takes to manage and grow a successful route of his own. In order to achieve his goals, Kyle knows it will take a lot extra work and effort, but he is ready to show how much he cares about his position, his clients, and the company.

The Right Fit

Another Route Service Representative, Shane McKinney, encouraged Kyle to apply for one of the open positions at CITY. “I worked with Shane in the past, and we had become good friends,” Kyle said. “When Shane recommended CITY to me, I felt that it would be a good fit, so here I am. CITY is a growing company, and I am happy to be on board.”

On a Personal Note

Kyle likes to spend time playing catch with his son and watching the Oakland Raiders. He also coaches his boy’s baseball and basketball teams.

What They Don\\\'t Know

“When I was younger I was selected to play baseball in Japan twice, once when I was fourteen and once when I was eighteen. I played third base and pitcher,” said Kyle.